David Leam, Infrastructure Director at London First, the business membership organisation leading the private sector campaign for Crossrail 2, said:

“It took over 20 years to get Crossrail 1 agreed – we can’t afford to wait that long again if we want London to be able to withstand the strain of a population growing by 100,000 a year.

“As Crossrail 1 has shown, we have world class capability when it comes to these kinds of projects.

“Crucially it has also shown that demands on the public purse can be kept to a minimum – only a third of the funds for Crossrail 1 came from central government.

“We need Crossrail 2, we have the skill to build it, and now it’s time to get on with it.”

London First’s work on the Crossrail 2 project includes:

Funding Crossrail 2, an in-depth study that showed how the scheme could be funded while meeting the key Treasury demand that only half the cost be borne by central government. The study found that by combining funding from passengers, property developers, Network Rail, London businesses and residents, that key challenge for green-lighting Crossrail 2 can be met.